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Bountiful Charity Quilt Along: Release 2

Good morning & happy Friday friends!

Today is a good day to share some fun new things I have been working on. You may have seen all the buzz surrounding Fat Quarter Shop’s Bountiful Charity Quilt Along. This is their 10th Annual Charity Quilt, and I am in awe of all the beautiful blessings it brings every year.

This year’s quilt is designed by Corey Yoder and features her newest collection, Sunwashed for Moda Fabrics. It’s stunning and adorable all at the same time, plus I am always inspired by Corey’s talent & creativity. Find more info about this quilt along (as well as a cross stitch version) on the Jolly Jabber blog here! And if you’re looking for fabric requirements, you can find those here!

Bountiful Charity Quilt designed by Corey Yoder

For this year’s Charity quilt, I am using our newest collection, Bountiful Blooms! I found this fitting and so serendipitous that the quilt is named “Bountiful”! Our collection (shipping in September 2023) culminates a feeling of seasons whilst in a transition of change. That moment when summer blooms start to flow into Fall was the inspiration we latched onto while designing these beautiful fabrics.

Bountiful Blooms by Sherri & Chelsi for Moda Fabrics

Bountiful Charity block releases will be published on the first Friday of every month. If you’re just joining in, don’t be hesitant to start! You have plenty of time to catch up and still pace yourself.

Wildflower & Center Blocks

Today I’ll be sharing my “Wildflower & Center Blocks” from Release 2. Fat Quarter Shop is also highlighting me on their blog today (thank you Fat Quarter Shop)! Be sure to read their post today that includes lots of great info and a couple fun things from me! Find that post here!

Okay, so just a couple fun things about these blocks…. these will make up the sashing and center blocks of the quilt. I thought it was such a clever idea to use blocks for these sections of the quilt. These blocks had lots of pieces varying in size, so I pulled out my “Alphabitties” from Fat Quarter Shop to help me keep track of everything. Truthfully it was so helpful to use them! You can find them here if you don’t already have some!

Once I had all of my fabrics cut and organized, I was ready to start sewing these cute blocks together! I loved putting together the different varieties of flower blocks and appreciated the fabrics in our Bountiful Blooms collection that gave me a wide range of prints and colors to choose from.

Again, once I started sewing, I just couldn’t stop. The patterns for these blocks were very well put together and designed making it an absolute joy to sew along to. I often get questions about if I enjoy sewing patterns and projects designed by other creatives and the answer is ABSOLUTELY YES! I love being able to sit down and follow a pattern designed by another talented creator. It makes my heart happy that others take such joy in creativity just like the rest of us!

After sewing up your Wildflower Blocks, you will need to mix and match them by stacking one flower variation on top of another. I made sure that like colors weren’t matched together. I like to have contrast when it comes to colors and prints. I played around with it for a bit until I decided on final choices. I love how they turned out!

After you’re done sewing up your flower blocks, you’ll still need to make your Center Block. This one is very cute, and I love that you can use different color options to tie the whole quilt top together! I opted for a pretty blush maroon & gold print for the petals and a simple gray for the center of the block. For those who may ask…I used Bella 9900-200 Off White for my background.

I’m loving how my blocks turned out and it’s so exciting to see how my quilt has been progressing! Quilt Along’s help keep me motivated to sew and they also challenge me creatively! Be sure to check out my Basket Blocks below from Release 1! I had so much fun putting those together and have really enjoyed using our Bountiful Blooms collection!

If you want to see more of my progress, be sure to visit me here on my blog. I’ll be sharing all the fun things plus more cute stuff I’ll be up to this year! You’ll be able to keep track of new quilts, new fabrics, and news were pretty excited about! Also, be sure to catch us on our YouTube channel here where we share all things Sherri & Chelsi!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

XOXO,

Chelsi

30 Days of Love Sew Along

Hello there! I have some really fun news this morning about a new Sew Along I have been itching to share featuring one of my newest patterns, Blissful.

My favorite part about this sew along is the casual aspect of it. The sew along officially begins next Monday, January 30th & ends Tuesday, February 28th. Our goal is to make one heart block a day for 30 days!

Favorite Things fabrics are not available until this coming Summer so I mocked up my quilt for the sew along using our Sincerely Yours fabrics! I am loving how it turned out and I know many shops have it available for purchase. (Shop owners: Moda Fabrics warehouse has Sincerely Yours available in the warehouse as well).

Sincerely Yours fabrics by Sherri & Chelsi

I will be posting updates on my blog as well as my newsletter. If you have not signed up for my newsletter yet, you can find a link here! Also, I’ve created a PDF with details about the sew along that includes a materials list as well as accountability hearts to color in after you’ve made each block! This should help you keep track of your goal to make one heart each day! Find it below!

BlissfulQAL copy Download

Just a few more things:

– Paper & PDF patterns for Blissful are available here

– Check your local & online shops for Sincerely Yours fabrics. Some shops might be open to creating kits if you ask! Materials list can be found on the free pdf

– Prep work will help you stay on task so I suggest cutting fabrics this week to be prepared to start sewing

I can’t wait to start sewing with you all this upcoming week. I hope to see your progress on social media via the hashtag #blissfulqal and can’t wait to see all your beautiful blocks. My hope is that we can make some cute heart blocks & have lots of fun doing it!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Chelsi

Sewcialites Block 4: Flirty

Hello there! I’m excited to share this weeks Sewcialites block, Flirty, with you all today! My block design is simple and sweet with lots of pretty colors and prints from our Simply Delightful collection.

Flirty Block designed by Chelsi Stratton

I opted for the 6″ finished blocks for this year’s Sewcialites and love this particular sizing. The pieces aren’t too small to work with, but I still get the cute factor of a smaller block size! It’s a win-win!! P.s. if you are making the 3″ blocks I recommend starching your fabrics prior to sewing.

You’ll notice I chose to go with a rainbow of colors for this block design. It was a great way to show off prints and colors from our Simply Delightful collection (Shipping February 2023). That multi colored stripe in the center definitely ties it all together!

I hope you enjoy making this block! Be sure to check out Fat Quarter Shop’s Jolly Jabber blog post here and make sure to find the Flirty pattern download here!

Be sure to follow me on my blog here as well as our A Quilting Life Youtube Channel and Instagram @chelsistratton

You can also find my Etsy shop here for patterns and fabrics! Thanks so much for stopping by!

– Chelsi Stratton

Heartfelt Charity QAL: Precious Block

Happy July 1st and welcome to a fun release day for the Fat Quarter Shop Heartfelt Charity QAL! I was really excited to participate in this year’s QAL and love that they chose Beautiful Day designed by Corey Yoder! I’ve known Corey for years and feel blessed to call her a sweet friend.

I absolutely loved piecing these cute Precious blocks (aren’t they adorable)! I had so many pink, red, and purple scraps in my stash from previous collections and knew that worked well for this quilt pattern (of course I was itching to use them up). It has been fun mixing and matching these particular colors, plus it’s giving me a really cute scrappy look.

This block uses easy piecing techniques (don’t be intimidated by the center heart, it’s easy peasy) and goes together quickly. I’m thinking a whole quilt of the Precious block would look stunning!

It warms my heart seeing Fat Quarter Shops Charity QAL’s come together each year. Donations bless so many families lives! If you wish to donate and sew along you can find the link here!

It’s always a joy to share things with my mom! I loved her block using our Emma fabrics! Be sure to check out Fat Quarter Shop’s blog for a fun feature today with my mom and I! You can also find the pattern for Release 6 here! I hope you enjoy sewing these sweet blocks!

Chelsi

Xoxo,

Moda Block Heads Roundup

Hello there! It’s been a little bit since I did a roundup of my Blockheads and since it’s Moda Block Heads Wednesday It seemed like the perfect time to catch up.

Today’s block 15, Highland Plaid, is brought to us by Crystal Manning! I love simple patchwork and piecing, but especially if it’s plaid! This block would actually make an awesome holiday plaid quilt top. I’m also still using all Emma fabrics (Emma ships in September 2022), but that tone on tone dot is actually a print by Vanessa Goertzen of Lellaboutique! I really enjoyed making this block and definitely have plans for a plaid quilt this Fall! P.s. be sure to check out Crystal’s blog for the pattern here! Keep reading for an update on more blocks!

Block #13, Evening Delight by Debbie Maddy

I have absolutely enjoyed sewing along with Moda Blockheads 4 and really like the weekly challenge of consistent sewing. It’s also really fun to see my pile of blocks growing!

That’s all for today friends! If you’d like to see more fun things be sure to follow me on Instagram @ chelsistratton or on the A Quilting Life Youtube channel here! You can also find my pattern shop here!

Xoxo,

Chelsi

Block Heads 10: Autumnal

Good Morning friends and welcome! I’m so very glad you’re here and feeling honored to share my block, Autumnal, with you all for Moda Block Heads today! It was an absolute joy to be invited on the Moda Block Heads train especially since I adore my fellow designers and friends I get to participate with. This is my very first Block Heads experience and I’m having a wonderful time. A couple highlights have been making the beautiful blocks and of course learning more about my fellow designers. What a treat to be sewing blocks they have designed!

I want to first start off by saying that having a weekly sew along is a great way to stay organized and goal oriented. This is something I have been trying to implement into my own sewing life and have found Block Heads to be a huge success in particular to this goal. It has also been a great way to use my scraps! I am primarily using fabrics from our Emma collection, but will be adding in fabrics from past groups too. My block featured above uses a Bella 200 background and two red prints from our Emma fabrics. I like to mix and match basic prints with floral prints. Its a great way to show off different prints, but you can always make it scrappy with more prints.

It can also be fun to opt for a darker background and low volume look as well! This is a great way to show off some low volume prints as the main focal point in your block! Autumnal already gives off such sweet simplicity so both color ways in my blocks work well. I also want to note that I am making the 9″ finished block size for all of my quilt blocks. This block is beginner friendly and uses simple piecing techniques. Keep reading to find the pattern!

Autumnal Blocks in 9″ & 4 1/2″ by Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life

I hope you enjoyed being here and reading more about my Autumnal block! You can find the pattern for the Autumnal block here! And if you want you can find my pattern shop here!

Be sure to follow my blog and my Instagram @chelsistratton for new fabrics, quilt patterns, and news and of course our YouTube channel here for all things Sherri & Chelsi!

Thanks for stopping by & happy sewing!

XOXO,

Chelsi

Block Heads 4: Week 3

Good morning friends!! I hope you’re ready for another fun block this week because Laurie Simpson designed this week’s block and it’s lovely! P.s. I’m really enjoying how Block Heads is keeping me accountable and sewing something new every week!

Block 3, Kouign Amann, designed by Laurie Simpson may seem a bit daunting with all those triangles, but they’re a breeze to make! You can find the PDF for this blog linked here!

I decided to use a variety of our blues from our most recent collection, Emma. I really love this new shade and knew I wanted to use one color, but different prints to showcase in this block!

My mom has been sharing pictures of her blocks with me and I am swooning over hers! She is currently doing both block sizes and I am so impressed with that tiny piecing! You can read more about her blocks here!

If you’re looking for my blog post on my week 1 & 2 blocks, you can find it here! Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Xoxo,

Chelsi

Block Heads 4: Blocks 1 & 2

It’s that time again…Block Heads 4 is here and I’m excited to be included in the designers group! Moda and the designers have put some amazing effort into this year’s lineup of creative blocks that I know you’ll love and I’m going to be blogging about my blocks every couple of weeks!

I’ll be using mostly fabrics from our new Emma fabric collection (shipping September 2022) for my blocks. I may be implementing some scraps from previous fabric collections, but will stick to using Emma for the most part. This collection is a huge plus because it gives an array of color options and prints to choose from.

Block 1, Square Wheel, designed by Lynn Hagmeier was a joy to make! I played around with color by mixing reds and pinks from our Emma collection! Also note that I’ll be making the 9.5″ unfinished blocks. I had so much fun piecing this sweet block! You can find the pattern on Lynn’s blog here!

Block 2, Coee, designed by Jenelle Kent is equally adorable. I found myself gravitating towards a pink/green/grey combo for this layout. This block uses simple piecing and you can find the pattern here!

I absolutely enjoyed piecing these blocks and can’t wait to share more blocks as the year goes by! I hope you’ll join me and the other designers on this fun adventure!

Xoxo,

Chelsi

Be Mine QAL Wrap Up

Hello friends! Can you believe today is the end of the Be Mine QAL!? I have absolutely loved seeing all of the participation, support, and beautiful blocks over the past several weeks! It has sure been fun and I hope to do another quilt along with you all again soon!

Whether you’re finishing up your quilt top this week or just starting your blocks I’m so happy you have joined in on all the fun! And if you’re afraid you have started too late, don’t fret! We have weekly videos still available on the A Quilting Life Youtube Channel that you can view whenever you want! Check that out here! Oh and don’t forget to grab a pattern here!

The Be Mine quilt is perfect for beginners and skilled quilters alike. The blocks each have a different skill level that implements easy piecing techniques as well as more intermediate techniques. It’s a great way to build confidence in quilting while still enjoying the process!

I hope you have enjoyed this quilt along as much as I have! I absolutely loved putting my quilt top together and can’t wait to see yours! Be sure to use the hashtag #bemineqal so I can see your progress and final quilt top!

Stay tuned for more fun things coming soon! New fabrics and patterns are on their way that I know you’ll love! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Xoxo,

Chelsi

Be Mine Quilt Along: Weeks 1-2

Good morning friends! I hope you’re all doing great! We’re just starting week 3 of the Be Mine Quilt Along, but I thought it would be fun to recap the blocks from weeks 1 & 2 plus talk about what’s to come the next couple of weeks!

Half Square Triangle Block & Patchwork Block by Chelsi Stratton

Weeks 1 & 2 consisted of the Patchwork Block & Half Square Triangle Block. These were also the first two steps in our “skills builder” quilt process (note that this makes the perfect beginner quilt for newer quilters). The Patchwork block requires simple piecing using only squares and the Half Square Triangle block implements additional steps to advance your skills as a quilter. It’s a great next step when growing beginner confidence in quilting! Be sure to check out the YouTube here for the instructional videos we filmed to help out! And if you are just joining in, make sure to grab a pattern here!

This week (Week 3) we are introducing the Zig Zag block! This adds to your skill building by implementing another step in the sewing process (it’s easy peasy). Our video today goes over how to make “Flying Geese” units and we will be showing step by step instruction so you feel right at home!

I really hope you have enjoyed making your blocks for the Be Mine Quilt! Make sure you use the hashtag #bemineqal on social media so I can see all of your progress and be sure to join us next week on February 2nd for the Week 4 Heart Block!

Just a few things before I go:

☆ Grab a pattern here if you’re just joining in! The videos will remain on YouTube so you’re not too late to get started!

☆ Check the A Quilting Life Youtube here every Wednesday (January 12th – February 9th) for a new instructional block video!

☆ Use the hashtag #bemineqal for social media so I can see your blocks

☆ Find me on Instagram @ chelsistratton

☆ Join us next week for the Week 4 Heart Block video (February 2nd)

Thanks so much for being here and I hope you are enjoying this fun QAL!

XOXO,

Chelsi